Although Beijing has declared it is ready to take fierce retaliation against Washington, it is said that it will not dare to "take risks" because trade negotiations have not yet ended.

Trump signed on November 27 for the Hong Kong Democracy and Human Rights Act. Accordingly, the US Secretary of State each year is responsible for certifying that Hong Kong maintains its autonomy so that the special zone can enjoy trade privileges from the US, maintaining the role of the world's financial center.

The new law allows the United States to freeze assets and embargo officials considered human rights abuses in Hong Kong, conduct an annual review to see if Hong Kong fully enforces export regulations. sanctions from the US and the UN or not.

The US president also signed a bill banning the sale of tear gas, rubber bullets and other equipment used by Hong Kong security forces to deal with protesters.

According to Tom Mitchell from the Financial Times, the move from the US will complicate the world's most important bilateral diplomatic relations. Max Baucus, a former US ambassador to China, also said the law would worsen relations between Washington and Beijing.

"I don't think it can help Hong Kong protesters achieve their goals. Moreover, the law also affects US-China relations. I think the relationship will get worse," he said.

Following President Trump's decision, thousands of Hong Kongers gathered in the city center, waving American flags to thank him for signing the law. China, meanwhile, calls it an act "extremely disgusting and harboring very sinister intentions". Beijing has warned it is willing to take "drastic retaliation measures" against Washington.

However, according to observers, despite giving a tough tone, China has few options to respond to the US. And they also have greater priorities to consider, namely the intense trade war between the two countries. Although the two sides are ready to move forward, they have not even signed a temporary agreement to prevent a new tax rate from taking effect within three weeks.

"Beijing can talk a lot but it can't afford to act," said Steve Tsang, director of the Chinese Institute of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. "The trade deal is so important to China that they won't let anything get in the way."

At a regular press conference on November 28, China's Ministry of Commerce, which is directly involved in trade negotiations with the United States, did not mention the Trump law.

Although the Chinese government sees the unrest in Hong Kong as a test of its strength and authority, it still has reason to put economic issues first, experts said.

The trade war brought China's economic growth to its lowest level in nearly three decades. The economic indicators in recent weeks show that the state of stagnation continues.

At the same time, China is now planning to import huge amounts of pork after the African swine cholera killed more than half of its cattle. The United States is the world's second largest pork producer, the world's second largest producer of soybeans for animal feed, and the world's largest beef producer.

China and the US probably have a long way to go before the trade war ends. But the two sides are trying to reach the first roadside station known as the "Phase one" trade deal. Reaching an agreement could block new U.S. tax rounds on Chinese goods, including smartphones and laptops, scheduled to take effect on December 15.

Chinese negotiators "understand that they have put too much effort into trade negotiations and are not allowed to let other issues get in the way," said James Green, senior associate at McLarty Associates, a Consulting firm based in Washington, said.

According to Evan S. Medeiros, Georgetown University professor and director of Asia for the US National Security Council under the Obama administration, China needs to show an angry attitude toward the Hong Kong Act but in fact , it also gives Beijing an added advantage. China can blame the US for the chaos that is happening in Hong Kong.

A law that punishes both China and Hong Kong acts as "evidence" of the so-called "US intervention", Medeiros commented.

Hong Kong protests erupted in early June to protest the extradition bill that will allow suspects to be brought to jurisdictions where the Special Zone has not signed an extradition treaty, including mainland China. After the special zone government announced the withdrawal of the bill, protesters still took to the streets to make other requests, including investigating the use of force by police, organizing democratic elections and leading Hong. Kong Carrie Lam resigns.

China will not be anxious to solve the Hong Kong problem because it understands that it cannot be removed in a short time. Despite the wait, Beijing cannot ignore the challenges that the US-enacted legislation causes. Trump's approval of the law could increase anxiety among Chinese leaders that their influence is weakening in Hong Kong, thereby increasing efforts to tighten control.

Chinese President Xi Jinping's government said last month that it would take steps to "ensure national security" in Hong Kong but did not provide further details.

According to Tian Feilong, executive director of a Hong Kong policy research institute in Beijing, the more "the more aggressively the US" is about Hong Kong, the more China will worry about national security in the special zone. much ".

"The central government will even urgently consider options and systems to control the situation in Hong Kong," Tian said.